My good friend and fellow artist Gordon Frickers is staying with me for a couple of weeks before he returns to his studio in France. It is always good to have the lad around, it provides us with an opportunity to discuss our new work and plan our future developments for life and careers.

Gordon has kindly offered to write my biography for my present exhibition. I have uploaded his section on Blastos-Bolbos.



This maturation in Folley’s painting can be attributed to his interest in philosophical concepts. As a result of studies at Middlesex University his work has shifted from Figurative to a Sensibilia-Abstraction.

Folley makes the distinction between Sensibilia and Abstraction by acknowledging the latter’s ‘vagueness of generalities’; and the former as a view of the world as it is for the individual – those things which each one of us sense, as immediate objects of our sense-perception. Folley’s Sensibilia-Abstraction questions the spectators’ concept of Truth by removing their preconscious learned narrative logic; in doing so – the spectator’s assurance and reliance upon nostalgia becomes distorted.

Folley is exhibiting three works reflecting from his new series, Blastos-Bolbos: ‘A Purple Anaesthetist’. Blastos-Bolbos (Blastos is Greek for germ and Bolbos means onion) was chosen by the painter to describe this series because after germination an onion develops multiple layers. This “discovery of knowing” continues Folley’s exploration into the symbiotic relationships between: the work, the painter and the viewers’ responses.

Gordon Frickers May 2010

My eight rules when staging exhibitions with Other Artists!

Our group has only seven cordial members. One would assume with limited wall space common sense would dictate that submitting a life-time of creative artwork would not go down well with the other members. I trust by sharing my experience it might be of help to others contemplating a similar event:

1) Someone has to have overall responsibility for choosing and placing the work; if possible there should be a couple of other members to give support.

2) Control, guidance and restraint to reduce a free for all.

3) Two labels to be attached to the art work which are long enough to hang below the bottom of the canvas or frame. One for cataloging and the other to remind you which work is which!

4) Limit the number of works members can submit.

5) Keep the distance between works as uniform and constant as possible, of course there are exceptions to this rule with multiple works etc. In my opinion an exhibition should appear professional at all times.

6) Advertising and exhibition literature should be consistent with the group’s branding.

7) Don’t take the other Artists too seriously, every one has an opinion, you can’t please every one!

8) Enjoy the event.

This is not an exhaustive list, but being aware of these points might save time and hassle.

Please feel free to comment and Best wishes with your exhibition.